Police Arrest 3 in Apparent Attack Plot

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, July 5, 2003

Three teenagers arrested Sunday with a cache of guns, knives and swords planned to carry out random attacks after targeting people they considered enemies, police said.

The trio _ two juveniles and an adult _ were taken into custody about 4 a.m. after a driver reported a carjacking attempt.

Police said two rifles, a shotgun, two handguns, two swords, several knives and a ammunition were seized. Additional weapons were found at the adult's residence, authorities said.

Mathew Rich, who reported the carjacking attempt, said he was leaving for work when he saw the three, dressed in trench coats and standing in front of a school. One crossed the street in front of him, opened his coat to reveal a handgun, then signaled for his friends.

Rich said he drove around them, then notified police.

When Rich returned to the area after driving to the police station, he saw the weapons being confiscated.